This is somewhat last minute, but we ask friends and benefactors of Saint Benedict Center to join our Brothers and Sisters in a Novena to the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul to begin today, Saturday, June 22, and terminate on Sunday, June 30, which, though it is supplanted this year by the Third Sunday after Pentecost, is the Commemoration of Saint Paul.
The intention is for the temporal and canonical protection of Saint Benedict Center, and the restoration to us of the spiritual goods which have been taken from us. For details, please see this page. The prayers we have chosen, below, come from the Raccolta.
Perhaps some sacrifice might be offered along with these prayers, some act of self denial, etc.
If you see this after the fact, please feel free to join us for as much of the novena as you can make.
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O HOLY Apostles, Peter and Paul, I choose you this day and forever to be my special patrons and advocates; thee, Saint Peter, Prince of the Apostles, because thou art the Rock, upon which Almighty God hath built His Church; thee, Saint Paul because thou wast fore-chosen by God as the Vessel of election and the Preacher of truth in the whole world. Obtain for me, I pray you, lively faith, firm hope and burning love; complete detachment from myself, contempt of the world, patience in adversity, humility in prosperity, attention in prayer, purity of heart, a right intention in all my works, diligence in fulfilling the duties of my state of life, constancy in my resolutions, resignation to the will of God and perseverance in the grace of God even unto death; that so, by means of your intercession and your glorious merits, I may be able to overcome the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil, and may be made worthy to appear before the chief and eternal Shepherd of souls, Jesus Christ, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth for endless ages, to enjoy His presence and love Him forever. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.
V. Thou shalt make them princes over all the earth.
R. They shall be mindful of Thy name, O Lord.
Let us pray.
O God, whose right hand raised up blessed Peter, when he walked upon the water and began to sink, and thrice delivered his fellow-Apostle Paul from the depths of the sea, when he suffered shipwreck: graciously hear us and grant, by the merits of them both, that we also may attain unto everlasting glory: Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
Let us pray.
Defend, O Lord, Thy people: and as they put their trust in the patronage of Thy holy Apostles, Peter and Paul, keep them ever by Thy protection. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
